Hi and welcome to MM
If you have only gone 7 months without a period, you are still technically in peri menopause - so your hormones will still be fluctuating and your periods may still return on and off.
Urogenital atrophy is horrid and very common when menopause hits. Local oestrogen will certainly help although, at you age, full HRT may well be appropriate to protect you heart and bones for the longer term. Oestrogen deficiency so young can cause health issues in the long term and your GP should have discussed this with you.
This local oestrogen treatment can sometimes cause some pain and slight bleeding at first, however, it is such a low dose of oestrogen, it is more likely that your ovaries are having the occasional last gasp.
Do use this cream every day for 2 weeks and then 2-3 times a week from then on - you are likely to need this for the rest of your life or the atrophy will return. I would also suggest you invest in some oestrogen moisturiser - the most popular moisturisers to use are SYLK or the YES products which you can buy online. Use the moisturiser daily but at a different time to the oestrogen cream.
Avoid tea, coffee, acidic fruit juices and alcohol. Drink lots of water. Take showers not baths and avoid using anything scented to wash with. Don't allow shampoo to get near your 'lady bits'.
The UTI type symptoms are so common when meno hits - you are not alone. I'd discuss trying full HRT, together with the oestrogen cream, to really help restore your urogenital health and protect you heart and bones. If you find the cream a bit messy to use, then ask for Vagifem pessaries instead as they are slightly easier to use and often cause less irritation.
Keep us posted - we are here to support you. DG x
